This week, the recent surge of COVID-19 cases on campus has declined from the initial surge at the start of the semester.

Five positive cases were reported on Sept. 14. This number peaked on Aug. 30 with 74 positive cases.

In comparison with the rest of Champaign County, the areas surrounding the University campus are by far the most affected. 

In comparison to the rest of the state, Champaign-Urbana has transmission rates on par with some of the state’s other large cities. Nationally, the University seems to be a part of the rising trend in COVID-19 cases.

In Champaign County, 161 positive cases were counted on Sept. 12. Most of the transmission is localized around the center of the University campus. 

The zip code region of highest transmission encompasses much of the University campus, with the second most densely-infected regions located directly adjacent to this epicenter. 

Few regions farther away from the University, on the other hand, have active cases ranging from single to double digits. 

Additionally, the majority of recently confirmed cases comes from people aged 20 to 30 years old.

In comparison to the rest of the state, the Illinois Department of Public Health records 4,194 statewide cases as of Sept. 14.

According to data from the IDPH, the area of highest transmission is Chicago, however when compared to Chicago’s outlying suburbs or other large cities such as Peoria or Springfield, Champaign County matches the amount of confirmed cases.

All counties in Illinois are listed as “high transmission” on the IDPH website.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Champaign County has been declared an area of high transmission, along with the majority of the country. 

However, hospitalizations remain relatively low in comparison to the rest of the country, accounting for just 0.2% of cases. 

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